MSC Wristbands

[sailorchick17]

Hello!

 

We are taking our first cruise with MSC on the Seaside in February. 
 

I’m looking for some information on the wristbands. How much? What do they look like? How do they work??
 

Ive done a search but I’m getting different photos and info and would love some first hand information. 

 

Thanks so much!

[EMc&DrS]

7 hours ago, sailorchick17 said:

Hello!

 

We are taking our first cruise with MSC on the Seaside in February. 
 

I’m looking for some information on the wristbands. How much? What do they look like? How do they work??
 

Ive done a search but I’m getting different photos and info and would love some first hand information. 

 

Thanks so much!

 

If you are in Yacht Club they are free and are given to you at check-in.  Not sure how much they charge if you want to buy one.  The YC bands are blue.  I did see some people around the ship wearing white ones, so I assume those were the ones that were purchased. Other than the color, they looked the same.

 

My wife rarely put hers on, but I put mine on when it was given to me and never took it off.  It can go in the pool, ocean, shower, and isn't affected when you apply sunscreen.  It opens your door, can be scanned when purchasing things--basically everything the card does--except you must have the standard card for getting on and off the ship.  I just love the fact that I don't have to keep up with a card when we're outside at the pool, etc.  Once I put it on, I don't notice it after a day or so.  It's like wearing a very lightweight watch. 

[Tapi]

3 minutes ago, EMc&DrS said:

 

If you are in Yacht Club they are free and are given to you at check-in.  Not sure how much they charge if you want to buy one.  The YC bands are blue.. 

We were in an Aurea stateroom and we had blue wristbands issued to us complimentarily as well. 
 

I agree about their convenience to do everything throughout the ship. I just wish that they’d work to go ashore and to get back on the ship (specially since we lost one of our cards while in port in Barcelona, so we had to take a few extra steps to get back onboard.)

[Beardface]

I take it these only have the RFID chip in it to act as your keycard?  I saw some info earlier about a new variety of wristband that comes with a tracker so friends or family can keep tabs on where you are within the ship, in case they want to meet up (or check up on where their kids are).  Are those slightly bigger wristbands?

[Essiesmom]

I was in a Fantastica balcony and purchased the wristband for $5 at guest services.  They are also available at the logo shop, but they are coded with your muster station, and the logo shop didn't have my muster station letter, so I had to go to guest services.  I liked it because I am usually the one to open the cabin door, so my card went into the slot to turn on the lights.  But my sister sleeps late, so if I left the cabin I would have to search our her card and replace mine in the power slot before leaving.  With the band, I could just leave my card in the cabin.  EM

 

 

Edited December 2, 2019 by Essiesmom

[SirWolf]

1 hour ago, EMc&DrS said:

 

If you are in Yacht Club they are free and are given to you at check-in.  Not sure how much they charge if you want to buy one.  The YC bands are blue.  I did see some people around the ship wearing white ones, so I assume those were the ones that were purchased. Other than the color, they looked the same.

Our Yacht Club wristbands were in the cabin with the cruise cards on embarking day.

Color was ‘Blue’ with ‘Gold’ Yacht Club logo and lettering which clearly differentiate YC bands from regular bands and makes it easier for staff outside the YC to identify YC guests.

The YC wristbands have the infamous elevator hijack function integrated... aka Priority Elevator.

[EMc&DrS]

1 minute ago, SirWolf said:

Our Yacht Club wristbands were in the cabin with the cruise cards on embarking day.

Color was ‘Blue’ with ‘Gold’ Yacht Club logo and lettering which clearly differentiate YC bands from regular bands and makes it easier for staff outside the YC to identify YC guests.

The YC wristbands have the infamous elevator hijack function integrated... aka Priority Elevator.

That was the case when we sailed YC on Seaside, but not this time.  They gave them to us at check-in and they did not have the YC logo.

[SirWolf]

5 minutes ago, EMc&DrS said:

That was the case when we sailed YC on Seaside, but not this time.  They gave them to us at check-in and they did not have the YC logo.

Thank you for letting us know.

Clearly another example of “Yacht Club changes (gone wrong...)“

We had the blue/gold YC wristbands in 2018 and on two cruises in 2019, last one in September 2019 Meraviglia.

Were your bands programed with YC privileges (Priority Elevator) ?

[jdvmd]

We purchased last month on the Seaside - $5 each. Ours were blue. Works great. Very convenient. Plan to purchase again this weekend on the Mera.

[reedprincess]

Bands are included for YC or Aurea. $5 for anyone else. $15 if you want the one with the trackers - regardless of what Experience booked. The tracker ones are white. The regular are blue with white lettering (shown above), or - usually - the YC has good logo and lettering.  Whether that's changed permanently or not, remains to be seen.  

Handy to use aboard for purchases, cabin door, etc.  Have to use your card to go ashore..otherwise, the band does all the other functions. You can wear the band ariund the ship and leave a cruise card in the slot by the door at cabin to power electronics, or simply not have to worry about where to keep your card.  

Enjoy. 

[EMc&DrS]

2 hours ago, SirWolf said:

Thank you for letting us know.

Clearly another example of “Yacht Club changes (gone wrong...)“

We had the blue/gold YC wristbands in 2018 and on two cruises in 2019, last one in September 2019 Meraviglia.

Were your bands programed with YC privileges (Priority Elevator) ?

 Yes.  The priority elevator worked most of the time with the band.  Also gets you into YC through the sliding doors.  I think the times the elevator didn't work was because someone was already in it using it.  That's all I could figure.

[electro]

Are these available on all ships?

Going on the preziosa in May and would definitely get one at $5.

[lcpagejr]

Just off Seaside and stayed in YC... My band was blue and gold with YC showing on it.... It stood out from other bands I saw.... It worked perfectly on the priority elevator and I never used my card except for leaving ship. When ordering drinks at bars outside YC.... Worked just fine and of course no charge 

[sailorchick17]

Awesome thanks everyone! I think these will be worth the $5 as we are not YC!

 

We tried the new ones with princess but they didn't hold the medallion well so we just used a Fitbit clip to carry the medallion instead which worked fine as well.  It's nice to see that these look to be all one piece so no worry about losing the main piece of it!

 

I'm not sure if I missed it...but can someone explain the "tracker" ones ??

[grandgeezer]

1 hour ago, sailorchick17 said:

Awesome thanks everyone! I think these will be worth the $5 as we are not YC!

 

We tried the new ones with princess but they didn't hold the medallion well so we just used a Fitbit clip to carry the medallion instead which worked fine as well.  It's nice to see that these look to be all one piece so no worry about losing the main piece of it!

 

I'm not sure if I missed it...but can someone explain the "tracker" ones ??

There are boards throughout the ship. We didn't have the tracker ones, but I do remember there is one by the casino. There is an option for tracking. You hold you bracelet up to the designated area, and it shows the locations of all the other people associated with your group. I don't know if everybody in the group needs the tracking feature or not. If not, it just means the ones without the feature can't do any tracking.

[dexddd]

The MSC for me app shows you on map and will give directions.  I'd have to ask others if showed their locations but thinking yes.

[Beardface]

51 minutes ago, dexddd said:

The MSC for me app shows you on map and will give directions.  I'd have to ask others if showed their locations but thinking yes.

You don't need the tracker for the MSC for Me app to give you directions, because its able to triangulate your position on the ship via your phone.  That said, in order for others in your party to find you, you'll need the wristband with the tracker for you to show up on their version of the app, or on the boards.

 

Then again, with the rollout of chat features within the app, as long as everyone has a phone on them, I'm not sure how this would be of a benefit to anyone other than those wanting to either keep track of those with mental disabilities, young children, elders, or just anyone in general who might not be overly tech savvy.

[aprilF]

Does the app work on all MSC ships?  It only lists a few when you open the app.  But I know on some other lines the app you see on land is very different from the app experience on ship.

[SirWolf]

2 hours ago, aprilF said:

Does the app work on all MSC ships? 

The ‘MSC for Me’ feature works on newer ships equipped to support smart technology.

MSC Seaside, MSC Seaview, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima & MSC Grandiosa.